Inflatable air tent



July 22, 1969 5, E, BATTERSON 3,456,403

INFLATABLE AIR TENT Filed June 19, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARLBATTERSON BY @W ATTORNEY y 22, 1969 c. E. BATTERSON 3,456,403

INFLATABLE AIR TENT Filed June 19, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CARLBATH-RS0 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,456,403 DIFLATABLE AIR TENTCarl E. Batterson, 1395 E. Maryland Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55106 FiledJune 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,974 Int. Cl. E04b N34 US. Cl. 52-2 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an inflatable tentmade of a series of sector-shaped or wedge-shaped sections of generallytriangular form, two edges converging substantially to a point and thethird side being convexly arcuate. The sections are formed of two pliesof air tight material marginally sealed together. The plies are alsosealed together along spaced diverging lines extending from the point ofthe sections at which the converging sides join to terminal pointsspaced from the sealed curved edge thereof. The sections are arrangedwith the converging edges overlaping. The interiors of the sections areconnected by tubes. When inflated, the tent walls extend upwardly andcurve inwardly to form a dome. Expansion of the top and bottom of thesections is restricted by lacings.

This invention relates to an improvement in inflatable tent, and dealsparticularly with a tent which may be used for camping or any othersuitable purpose.

Various types of inflatable structures have been produced. For the mostpart, these previous devices have been produced in the form of acontinuous arch having closure means at at least one end thereof, andusuall having some means of connecting opposite sides of the arch tohold the structure in proper position. While structures of this type aresuitable to provide sleeping accommodations similar to a pup tent or thelike, they usually do not accommodate a person in an upright position.Furthermore, the size of tents of this type is fixed and the tents aremade to a predetermined size and shape.

There are various advantages of having a tent which is of dome-shapedconstruction. A tent of this type is capable of deflecting a higher windvelocity than the tents having flat surfaces. By making the tent ofproper size, it can be made to readily accommodate a person in astanding position if it is so desired. Furthermore, tents of this typeare more readily adaptable to ventilation. By providing an opening ofthe proper size at the top of the tent, a fire or other means ofsupplying heat may be safely used within the tent, the fumes being freeto escape through the top opening.

There is also an advantage in providing a tent of the type describedwhich is adjustable in size. I have found that by making the tent in anumber of sections, the diameter of the structure may be readilyincreased so that the tent is capable of holding a predeterminednumber-of people. Making the tent in a series of sections also providesthe advantage that a door opening may be provided at any point about thecircumference of the tent by merely disconnecting the fastening meanswhich hold the adjoining sections together. Making the tent in a seriesof separable sections also has the advantage that in the event onesection is accidentally perforated, this section may be removed andeither replaced by another section, or the diameter of the tent may bereduced to compensate for the missing section. Having the tent insections also simplifies the task of providing window space in warmweather. By leaving two sections spaced apart, and adding a similarnon-inflatable section of netting or other such material, a screenopening may be readily provided. Furthermore, if desired, certain of thesections may be Patented July 22, 1969 ice provided with screenedopenings or the like in the event the tent is to be used in warmWeather.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of atent formed of a series of sections which are generally wedge shaped inform being relatively wide at their lower ends, and tapering tosubstantially a point at their upper ends. The sections are formed oftwo thicknesses of rubber or other resilient material which are sealedtogether about their entire periphery. The plies of material are alsosealed together along tapering lines which are relatively wide apart atthe lower ends of the sections, and which are relatively close togetherat the narrow upper ends thereof. The lines of attachment termiate inspaced relation to the sealed lower ends of the sections so as toprovide a continuous annular passage about the bottom of the tent. Meansare provided for connecting the upper ends of the sections so that theseends come together, to form a closure or are spaced apart so that thetops of the sections define a ventilating opening at the top of thetent. Means are also provided for connecting the lower ends of thesections together, this means usually comprising a cord or similarfastening means extending through the sealed lower edges of the sectionsand preventing them from moving outwardly. Alternatively, the sealedlower edges of the sections may be secured to the marginal edge of acircular disk forming a floor if it is so desired.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the manner inwhich the tent is inflated. Each section is connected to an adjoiningsection by a hollow conduit which connects a pair of self sealing valveswhich are sealed to the sections, such tubes being provided about theentire periphery of the tent so that all of the sections may beconnected together. As a result, when air under pres sure is introducedthrough one of the valves, this air may flow from one section toanother, uniformly inflating the tent to its completed form.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of anovel means of holding two of the sections together so that they may bereadily separated. If desired, the tapered edges of the sections may beprovided with inflated ribs which are spaced from the next adjacent ribby a flat area through which the plies of the sections are sealedtogether. The space between the marginal edge and the next adjoining ribof each section may thereby form a pocket designed to accommodate themarginal edge of the next adjoining section. In this way, the twosections may be overlapped to provide a closure. At the same time, thetwo sections may be readily spread apart to provide a door opening.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sectional tent showing the generalarrangement thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view through a section of the tent,the section being shown through a single inflated tent section.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lower end of one ofthe tent sections, showing the transverse passage at the base of eachsection through which air is communicated to the individual ribs of thesection.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section through one of the fittings provided forconnecting the interior of one section to the interior of the next, topermit the ready inflation thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the assembled tent, before inflation, thetent illustrated being formed of eight similar sections.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional detail showing an air valve communicating withthe interior of the tent and through which the tent may be filled withair.

3 FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view through the sealed lower ends ofa pair of overlapping sections and showing the cord or lace for tyingthe sections together.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of one of the sections in flatform.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded view showing snap fasteners for holding theadjoining sections together.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view of a foraminous panel to take place ofone of the inflatable panels.

The tent A is formed of a series of inflatable sections, the sectionsbeing indicated in general by the letter B. Obviously, the sections mayvary to some extent in shape, depending upon the desired shape of thefinished tent. However, the sections are generally wedge-shaped ortriangular in form having a relatively wide lower peripheral end, and avery narrow upper end.

Each of the sections B is formed of at least two plies of resilientsheeting, the outer ply being indicated by the numeral 10 in FIGURES 2and 3 of the drawings, and the inner ply being indicated by the numeral11. As is indicated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the two plies are ofgenerally triangular form, and are sealed together along the lowerarcuate edge 12 to form a flat flange 13. The side edges 14 and 15 arealso sealed together, and the short arcuate upper edge 16 is also sealedto form a top flat flange 17. In preferred form, and as indicated inFIGURE 9 of the drawings, the side edges 14 and 15 are sealed togetheralong an area 19 which is spaced from the marginal edges 20 and 21 ofthe plys 10 and 11. As a result this forms separate flaps 22 and 23between which may be sandwiched a panel 24 of gauze or screen materialto form a foraminous ventilating means. Snap fasteners 25 may beprovided in the inner flaps 23 with cooperable snap fastener means 26 onthe edges of the panel 24 which are engageable therewith. When a fullheight opening is desired, the screen panels may be shaped properly tofit the space between the inflated sections.

The plies 10 and 11 are sealed together along generally triangular areas27 and 29 which are spaced from the sealed areas 19 of the ply edges toprovide an inflatable rib 30 between the sealed areas 27 and 29 and theadjacent edges 14 and 15. The plies are also sealed together alongupwardly converging lines 31 which extend to the seal top 17, but whichterminate in spaced relation to the sealed lower edge 13. The sealedareas 27 and 29 also terminate above the sealed flange 13.

Grommets 32 extend through the sealed arcuate flange 13 of each section,and similar grommets 33 extend through the sealed top flange 17. Thegrommets 32 and 33 are designed to accommodate lacing lines such as 34indicated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. With sections of the typeillustrated, it would seem that the tent, when inflated, would beconical in form. However, it will be noted that the space between thelines of sealing 31 are considerably farther apart near the lower edgeof each section than at the upper end thereof. As a result, when thesections are inflated, the area between the lines of sealing areinflated to a much greater extend than at the upper ends of thesections. As a result, when the lacings 34 are drawn up so that thediameter of the marginal edge is of considerably smaller circumferencethan when the sections are laid flat, the tent forms a dome-shapedstructure similar to that illustrated in FIG- URE 1 of the drawings.

Each of the sections B is provided with an air tube 35 near the lowerend thereof spaced from the edge 14 of the section, and a second airtube 36 at approximately the same distance from the lower arcuate edge12 of the section and spaced from the side edge 15. These air tubes maybe self-sealing valves or may be of any desired form. As is indicated inFIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings, the air tube 35 of one section isconnected to the air tube 36 of the adjoining section by a flexible aircommunicating tube 37. The air tube 37 may be left off the sectionswhich are to form the door openings, and

these terminal air tubes may be capped or otherwise held closed asindicated at 39 in FIGURE 6 of the drawings.

The sections B are assembled together in the manner best illustrated inFIGURE 5 of the drawings. The side edges 14 and 15 of adjoining sectionsare overlapped in the manner illustrated so that the marginal rib 30between the sealed area 29 and the sealed edge 15 overlies the sealedarea 27 of the next adjoining section. When arranged in the relationshipillustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the lacings 34 are insertedthrough the grommets, the marginal grommets of one section being alignedwith the marginal grommets of the adjoining section as indicated inFIGURE 7. A lace is also inserted through the grommets 33 at the upperends of the sections, and this lacing is either allowed to be ofsuflicient length to provide a ventilation opening at the top of thetent, or the ends of the sections may be drawn together to form aclosure. The lacings 34 are tightened until the diameter of the lowerends of the sections is materially less than in FIGURE 5 of thedrawings. Air is then introduced to one of the air tubes 35 or 36,usually one of the terminal air tubes which has remained unconnected bythe connecting tube 37. The air flows from one section to anotherthroughout the entire group of sections, passing from one section to theother through the connecting tubes 37. As the tent is inflated, it tendsto assume the form illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the lowerportions of the walls being substantially vertical and then curvinginwardly to form a dome.

By leaving the laces 34 free of connection with the section which is toform the door, this one section may be swung inwardly or outwardly togain access to the interior of the tent. When the door is closed, themarginal ribs 30 of the two sections overlap in the manner illustratedin FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Also, due to the fact that the lower endsof the sections are not uninterrupted by the sealing seams 27,29 and 31,the lower edge of the tent forms an inflated rib extending about thebottom of the sections. The marginal lower edges of the sectionsnormally fold inwardly along the surface of the ground as indicated inFIGURE 3 of the drawings.

The foraminous panel 24 is digrammatically shown in FIGURE 10. Thispanel is shaped similarly to the outline shape of the sections B afterthey are inflated. The lower portions 40 of the panel sides aresubstantially parallel, as the taper of the ribs between the sealedareas 31 draw the triangular sides of the sections B together more atthe bottom of the sections than toward the top. The snap fastenerportions 26 preferably extend through binding tapes 41 encircling thepanel. Grommets 42 and 43, similar to the grommets 32 and 33, may beprovided at the lower and upper edges 44 and 45 of the panel 24, toaccommodate the lacings. I

In accordance with patent ofiice statutes, I have described theprinciples of construction and operation of may improvement ininflatable tent, and while I have endeavored to set forth the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

1. An inflatable tent including:

a series of generally wedge-shaped sections having a narrow upper end, agenerally arcuate wide base end, and sides which diverge from a narrowupper end to the wide base end,

each section including a pair of contiguous plies of air tight flexiblematerial marginally sealed to provide a sealed upper end, a sealed baseend and sealed side edges,

the sections including a plurality of scaled areas arranged in linesextending from the narrow upper end in diverging relation to a pointspaced from the base end thereof, I

means connecting the sealed base ends of the section together in arcuaterelation,

means connecting, the upper ends of the sections together,

relatively wide sealed areas between the plies in spaced relation toboth side edges of said sections, these relatively wide sealed areasforming pockets to accommodate the inflated areas of the next adjoiningsections to hold the side edges of the sections in overlapped relation,and

means by which the interior of said sections may be inflated to providea dome-shaped structure.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including connecting means connectingthe space between the plies of the various connections for transmissionof fluid from one section to the other.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including air tubes connecting theinteriors of adjoining sections together and through which air may flowfrom one section to another.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said sections are substantiallytriangular in outline before they are inflated.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which the means connecting the sealedbase ends of the sections comprises flexible laces.

6. The structure of claim 1 and in which said sealed base ends areprovided with spaced grommets adapted to accommodate laces which providethe means for connecting the sealed base ends of sections together.

7. The structure of claim 1 and in which the sealed marginal edges ofsaid sections are provided with vertically spaced snap fastener membersadapted to cooperate with snap fastener members on the edges of aflexible foraminous section inserted between a pair of said inflatablesections.

8. The structure of claim 1 and in which the plies of the sealed sideedges of the section are unattached outwardly of the marginal seal, andincluding snap fastener members in spaced relation on one of said plies.

9. An inflated tent including:

a series of generally wedge-shaped sections having a narrow upper end, agenerally arcuate wide base end, and sides which diverge from the narrowupper end to the wide base end,

each section including a pair of contiguous plies of air tight flexiblematerial marginally sealed to provide a sealed upper end, a sealed baseend and sealed side edges.

the sections including a plurality of sealed areas arranged in linesextending from the narrow upper end in diverging relation to a pointspaced from the base .end thereof,

meansEconnecting the sealed base ends of the section together in arcuaterelation,

means connecting the upper ends of the sections together,

detachable means connecting the interior of one section to the interiorof the next, and

means by which the interior of said sections may be inflated to providea dome-shaped structure.

10. The structure of claim 9 and including means holding the side edgesof said sections in over lapping relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,314 9/1953 Hasselquist 52-22,830,606 4/1958 Daugherty 522 3,227,169 1/1966 Fischer 52--2 FRANK L.ABBOTT, Primary Examiner J. L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 5280

